Week Seven: Fantasy MidPoint Oct 17, 2008 | More

This is the midpoint for most fantasy leagues depending on how many regular season games you may have. At the halfway mark, we’ve seen a lot of QB changes, plenty of injuries to key players and inconsistent scoring from top players. What we do know is that halfway through the fantasy season, RBs are once again the dominate force behind your team. If you got a good stable of backs, you can ride out the injuries and byes and cruise into the playoffs.

At a glance we will look at the Top 12 players in fantasy leagues as well as how the first consensus 12 picks according to ADP is performing.

Top 12 Fantasy Players Overall
(Based on Shark League scoring)

1) Marion Barber III – 23.8 FTPs per game
2) Matt Forte – 23.5 FTPs per game
3) Frank Gore – 23.3 FTPs per game
4) Reggie Bush – 23.2 FTPs per game
5) Clinton Portis – 22.5 FTPs per game
6) Aaron Rodgers – 21.5 FTPs per game
7) Drew Brees – 21.3 FTPs per game
8) Jay Cutler – 20 FTPs per game
9) Greg Jennings – 20 FTPs per game
10) Michael Turner – 20 FTPs per game
11) Tony Romo – 20 FTPs per game
12) Larry Fitzgerald – 19.7 FTPs per game

Of this group, six are RBs, four are QBs and only two are WR. There are only four WR in the Top 20 overall.

Top 12 Fantasy Players Drafted Overall
(Based on ADP)

1) LaDainian Tomlinson – 17th overall with 18.3 FTPs per game
2) Adrian Peterson – 15th overall, 18.7 FTPs per game
3) Brian Westbrook – 41st overall, 14.3 FTPs per game
4) Joseph Addai – 102nd overall, 10.3 FTPs per game
5) Steven Jackson – 23rd overall, 16.6 FTPs per game
6) Tom Brady – IR
7) Marion Barber III – 1st overall, 23.8 FTPs per game
8) Randy Moss – 113th overall, 10 FTPs per game
9) Frank Gore – 3rd overall 23.3, FTPs per game
10) Clinton Portis – 5th overall, 22.5 FTPs per game
11) Marshawn Lynch – 32nd overall, 15.2 FTPs per game

From this list, only three players are in the top 10 overall in fantasy points, and they are all running backs. (Barber III, Gore and Portis)

Week Seven bye: Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Arizona

QBs on Week Seven bye:
The list includes: Donavan McNabb, David Garrard, Matt Ryan and Kurt Warner.

RBs on Week Seven Bye:
This list includes: Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Maurice Jones-Drew, Fred Taylor, Michael Turner and Edgerrin James

WRs on Week Seven Bye:
This list includes: Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis, Jerry Porter, Matt Jones, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin

TEs on Week Seven Bye:
This list includes: L.J. Smith, Mercedes Lewis, Leonard Pope and Justin Peelle

Ks on Week Seven Bye:
This list includes: David Akers, Josh Scobee, Jason Elam and Neil Rackers

The Golden Mug Award
Awarded to the fantasy player who came through for their team.
Marion Barber III – 17 carries for 45 RuYDs and 11 rec. for 128 ReYDs, 1TD. Barber owners needed a bounce back from him and he came back to put up some good stats for Week 6. With Tony Romo ailing, Barber may carry more of the offense and defenses will have to play honest as Roy Williams will command some attention as well.

Thomas Jones – 17 carries for 65 RuYDs, 2TDs and 3 rec. for 13 ReYDs and 1TD. Sometimes the stats are not pretty as Jones averaged 3.8 RuYDs per carry but at the end of the day, the three scores is what counts for your team.

Correll Buckhalter – 18 carries for 93 RuYDs, 1TD and 7 rec. for 85 ReYDs. With Brian Westbrook injured, Buckhalter has some fantasy relevance again. Another waiver wire player to the rescue if Westbrook continues to miss time, Buckhalter will be used plenty.

The Urinal Cake Award
Awarded to the fantasy player who you would like to, well you know.
Giants Defense – 35 points allowed, 454 total yards, 0 turnovers and 0 sacks. I’ll be the first to rip my boys for that poor showing. Yeah the offense turned it over three times but if you allow the Browns to not even have to punt the whole game, that’s just crazy. I was counting on them for points in two leagues and they let me down.

Edgerrin James – 9 carries for 29 RuYDs, 0TDs. The Edge has been dull and if he’s in your lineup for more then just a flex option, then you need to make a trade because he’s not going to win any one a championship. He did score the previous two weeks but that only diluted the fact that he’s not producing like he should.

Ted Ginn Jr. – 1 rec. for -1 ReYDs, 0TDs. I know Ginn isn’t going to put up great numbers, but he was drafted on average in the 10th round to be a bye week fill in or a break out sleeper. After putting up 55 ReYDs against the Chargers, the Texans matchup seemed like a good game to take a chance on him only to come away with nothing.

MATCHUPS

The matchups I like this week for QBs:
Brett Favre against the Raiders. The last time Favre faced the Raiders was on Monday night the week his father passed, and he went off. Granted Favre is on another team and he isn’t coming in with a heavy heart, but the Raiders will give up plenty to him. The Raiders are allowing 27 ppg (27th) and 234 PaYDs (26th) per game. The Raiders have also given up eight PaTDs this season.

Jeff Garcia against the Seahawks. The last time the Seahawks came across the country, they got killed by the Giants. Now they travel upwards of 3,000 miles to Tampa Bay where it will be in the high 80’s and Seattle is very banged up. The Seahawks are giving up 30.2 ppg (39th) and allowing 229.6 PaYDs (22nd) per game while giving up nine PaTDs. This is a great time if any to use Garcia for a bye week start.

Gus Frerotte against the Bears. This game for some reason feels like a high scoring, back and forth game. Division games usually don’t disappoint. In four starts, Frerotte has averaged 242 PaYds per game and has been on track with Bernard Berrian. They face a Bears team that is giving up 236.3 PaYDs (27th) per game. With both teams at 3-3, this will be a hard fought game to keep pace in the division.

The matchups I like this week for RBs:
Chris Johnson against the Chiefs. A nice bye week to rest up, a disgruntled Tony Gonzalez, another change at QB and the suspension of Larry Johnson for this game adds up to a nice day for this Johnson. The matchup was in Tennessee’s favor before the Chiefs disciplined Larry. The Chiefs give up 182.2 RuYds (32nd) per game. They have also given up eight RuTDs which that total should increase this weekend.

Steve Slaton against the Lions. You can’t have a favorable matchup list without mentioning the Lions. It has gone from worse to horrible for the Lions situation. They have lost Jon Kitna to injury and then traded WR Roy Williams. They were already towards the bottom of the league in defense. They have allowed 171 RuYDs (31st) per game and have given up seven RuTDs. Slaton has been running well and should be used this week.

Marion Barber III against the Rams. The Rams won last week against another NFC East team ... could they make it two in a row? Tony Romo might play despite his injury but Barber has been tearing it up as the #1 fantasy RB. He has six total TDs through six games and faces a Rams team that has given up nine RuTDs. The Rams also allow 169 RuYDs (30th) per game. No matter who starts at QB for the Cowboys, they will be leaning on Barber more in the game. Don’t forget: rookie Felix Jones will miss the game with a hamstring injury.

The matchups I don’t like this week for QBs:
J.T. O’Sullivan against the Giants. The Giants will look at their Monday night game and fix the problems they had on defense and will make a point to get to the QB in this game. That QB is O’Sullivan, who has been sacked this year almost four times a game and has thrown eight INTs to seven TDs. The Giants are still only giving up 185.6 PaYDs (9th) per game.

Chad Pennington against the Ravens. Like the Giants last week, the Ravens were schooled and will bounce back to make things right. With several QBs injured or off on a bye, some owners will be hitting the waivers looking for someone that will be available and Pennington should not be that option. Baltimore still leads the league in PaYds against them with just 154.4.

Jason Campbell against the Browns. Is the Browns defense for real? The Browns kept their season alive, and have been playing well against the pass as they have allowed just 188 PaYDs (11th) per game and have given up only four PaTDs. Campbell has not thrown a TD in two straight games and has only six PaTDs on the year.

The matchups I don't like this week for RB's:
Julius Jones/Maurice Morris against the Buccaneers. As the Seattle defense struggles to keep Jeff Garcia and the offense off the field, the Bucs defense will be limiting the ground game for the Seahawks. The Bucs are allowing just 89.7 RuYDs (9th) per game and have yet to allow a rushing TD. This is a situation you should avoid.

Reggie Bush/Deuce McAllister against the Panthers. Bush may not play in this one which will hurt the Saints rushing game even further. Carolina was part of the blowout list last week and wants to prove they are a legitimate contender in the division as many people are favoring the Saints. The Panthers run defense has been in the middle as they allow 105.7 RuYDs (15th) per game but have only given up two RuTDs.

Darren McFadden/Justin Fargas against the Jets. With the injuries to McFadden and the team struggling against the Saints, the Oakland ground attack has been ineffective. They play a Jets team that is giving up just 69 RuYds (3rd) per game and held teams under 50 RuYDs in two straight games. The Jets have not allowed a run over 40 yards all season.

Week Seven. The playoff picture in your league should be shaping up and you need to make sure you’re in the mix.

Good Luck to everyone in week seven.

Cheers!